Claims
- 1. (Canceled)
- 2. A method of preparing a breast for ductal fluid collection comprising;
contacting the nipple surface of a human breast with a composition comprising an anesthetic and one or more agent selected from the group consisting of a detergent, an exfoliating agent, an antiseptic agent, a dekeratinyzing agent, an orifice-dilating agent, a vaso-dilator, a muscle-relaxing agent, a muscle-constricting agent, a lactation-stimulating agent, a secretion-stimulating agent, a sphincter-relaxer, an anti-ischemic agent, a beta-blocker, a calcium channel blocker, a dye or stain to mark the nipple surface excluding ductal orifices, a dye or stain to mark a perimeter of a ductal orifice, and a dye or stain to mark a ductal orifice for sufficient time to allow the composition to take effect on the nipple surface, wherein contacting said nipple surface with said composition facilitates ductal fluid collection.
- 3. A method of preparing a breast ductal for access and fluid collection comprising;
contacting a ductal orifice of a human breast with a tip of a ductal access tool coated with a composition comprising one or more agent selected from the group consisting of an anesthetic, a detergent, an exfoliating agent, an antiseptic agent, a dekeratinyzing agent, an orifice-dilating agent, a vaso-dilator, a muscle-relaxing agent, a muscle-constricting agent, a lactation-stimulating agent, a secretion-stimulating agent, a sphincter-relaxer, an anti-ischemic agent, a beta-blocker, a calcium channel blocker, a dye or stain to mark the nipple surface excluding ductal orifices, a dye or stain to mark a perimeter of a ductal orifice, and a dye or stain to mark a ductal orifice, wherein contacting said ductal orifice with said composition facilitates ductal access or ductal fluid collection or both.
- 4. A method of preparing a breast ductal for access and fluid collection comprising;
contacting a ductal orifice of a human breast with a tip of a ductal access tool coated with a composition comprising one or more agent selected from the group consisting of an anesthetic, a detergent, an exfoliating agent, an antiseptic agent, a dekeratinyzing agent, an orifice-dilating agent, a vaso-dilator, a muscle-relaxing agent, a muscle-constricting agent, a lactation-stimulating agent, a secretion-stimulating agent, a sphincter-relaxer, an anti-ischemic agent, a beta-blocker, a calcium channel blocker, a dye or stain to mark the nipple surface excluding ductal orifices, a dye or stain to mark a perimeter of a ductal orifice, and a dye or stain to mark a ductal orifice; and infusing a solution comprising an anesthetic into the duct through a lumen of the ductal access tool, wherein contacting said breast duct with said composition facilitates ductal access or ductal fluid collection or both.
- 5. A method of preparing a breast ductal for access and fluid collection comprising;
infusing a duct of a human breast with a solution comprising an anesthetic and one or more agent selected from the group consisting of an oncotic agent, an osmotic agent, oxytocin, prolactin, a ductal orifice-dilating agent, a vaso-dilator, a vaso-constricter, a muscle-relaxant, a muscle-constricter, an anti-ischemic agent, a beta-blocker, a calcium channel blocker, a dye or stain to mark the nipple surface excluding ductal orifices, a dye or stain to mark a perimeter of a ductal orifice, and a dye or stain to mark a ductal orifice, wherein infusing said duct with said solution facilitates ductal access or ductal fluid collection or both.
- 6. (Canceled)
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit under 37 CFR 1.78 of provisional application 60/210,438 filed on Jun. 8, 2000, provisional application 60/236,506 filed Sep. 29, 2000, and provisional application 60/252,090 filed Nov. 21, 2000. The full disclosures of each of the prior applications are incorporated herein by reference.
Provisional Applications (3)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60210438 |
Jun 2000 |
US |
|
60236506 |
Sep 2000 |
US |
|
60252090 |
Nov 2000 |
US |
Continuations (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09876144 |
Jun 2001 |
US |
Child |
10775366 |
Feb 2004 |
US |